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Profinet provides one network for all applications: factory automation, process automation, and motion control. Although, there are many benefits to using Profinet, let’s focus on six of them: Diagnostics During commissioning, maintenance, or when an error occurs, it is necessary to obtain an overview of the plant or machine status in minimum time. The integrated…

A few weeks ago we hosted a webinar together with the PIC (PROFI-Interface Center) about PROFINET Diagnostics. We had many attendees and several of them had very interesting questions during the webinar. As a recap and a way to sum up most of the questions, we have answered them below. Q&A 1.-Is there a generic…

Last year we featured over 15 application stories in PROFINEWS alone and we look forward to publicizing more PROFIBUS, PROFINET and IO-LINK application news in 2018. If you have an interesting PROFI-related case study or success story, share it with us! PI’s open standards encourage innovation, and part of it comes from problem solvers and creative minds…

Migrating from a Fieldbus or other industrial Ethernet to PROFINET is a common challenge. Every automation system is specialized in some way, and specialized components may not “speak” PROFINET. To move data from the specialized systems up to the PROFINET network, you have to add an interpreter to the network: A Proxy or a Gateway.…

Some Ethernet switches provide specific features to assist you with your application. Learn more about the eight Ethernet switch features on our list. There are many more switch features available on the market, but these are very popular within the industry. Store and Forward Switches: Store and forward switches read and buffer the complete data packet…

Migration Approaches PROFINET leverages PROFIBUS technologies to ensure a smooth and cost-effective migration between them. Depending on the factory state and current network technology there are two migration approaches: Greenfield and Brownfield installation Greenfield Installation: Nonexistent network in the first place, i.e. new branch in the factory. New factories won’t require migration, but new branches…

A PROFINET network is built on standard IEEE 802.3 Ethernet. Due to challenging environments on the factory floor, most users opt for rugged industrial Ethernet cables when building an industrial network. Even though wireless access points are becoming more popular, most of today’s network connections are wired and require cabling. Depending on the application, industrial cables…

It’s time for Carl to retire; he hit 70 a couple months ago and as much fun as PI North America has been, it’s time to reluctantly move on. It’s been fun. So, it’s time for Carl to focus on the next chapter, but it’s a time to look at past chapters just a little:…

I’m a big fan of mnemonics. A mnemonic, /nɛˈmɑːnɪk/ (the first “m” is silent) device, or memory device, is any learning technique that aids information retention in the human memory per Wikipedia. In school, you may have learned a mnemonic to remember the Great Lakes: HOMES, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. I learned the resistor…